Shoe-heel.



F. A. NOLAN.

SHOE HEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1915.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

Inventor:

17cm a a's/Z Mplan.

' cient cushion heel,

alternative UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS A. NOLAN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

SHOE-HEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

Application filed. November '26, 1915. Serial No. 63,353.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. NOLAN, a cltizen of the United States,residing at St.

Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of permanently secure them tothe shoes.

More particularly this invention has to do with that class of resilientheels, which are permanently secured to the shoes or a por tion of theshoe heels. ,With previous devices the fastening means and theparticular construction of the heel employed haverendered shoe 'heels ofthe class stated objectionable due to the fastening means beingdiflicult to secure in place, rendering the same eflective only part ofthe time and theshoe heel not preventing slipping at all times and underall conditions- Prior constructions have also in all instances where thecushion heel is fastened permanently by securing fastening devicesthrough the lower surface of the heel, permitted moisture and dirt tocollect'in cavitiesor openings which have been provided in the heel.Th'ese objections are entirely overcome by my invention. y inventionfarther provides an efiiwhich will wear longer and produce moreeffective results than heretofore. In the accompanying drawing formingpart of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a detail ofa shoe, a portion of the heel thereof being shown in section; Fig. 2 isan end view of my improved resilient heel, a portion thereof beingbroken away and in section; Fi 3 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 4 is a topp an view; Fig. 5 is a section of a detail taken on "the line XX of Fi4- Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line Y1 of Fig. 4; Figs. 7 and 8 aresections of details, and Fig. 9 is a top plan of an construction. In thedrawing A indicates a detail. of a shoe or boot, it being understoodthat where the term shoe is used throughout this permanentattachspecification and in the claims following, it is intended to beconstrued as meaning boots, shoes and any other foot wearing apparel hwhich resilient heels are adapted for use. The shoe A is shown withaportion of the usual heel. portion 2 secured to the lift in the usualmanner. B is my improved resilientheel which is adapted for perma nentattachment to the heel portion 2 of the shoe or when desired, it can bepermanently secured directly to the lift instead of to the heel portion'2. My improved resilient heel B maybe made out of rubber or othersuitable resilient material and is molded or otherwise formed in theshape of the usual heel. The body B of the heel is formed with a cavity3 in the top side thereof adjacent to the lower surface of the heelportion 2. The rim or margin 4 of the heel surrounding the cavity 3 hasembedded in its upper portion a plurality of washers 5, 1

which are suitably spaced apart and through which fastening devices suchas the nails 6 are driven from the lower side of the resilient heelupwardly into the body of the heel portion 2 of the shoe. Suitablebuttresses'15 are formed on the heel B projecting into the cavity 3 toprovide material in which the washers 5 are securely embedded to holdthe resilient heel securely on the 5 is dished to shoe. Each of thewashers form a recess 8 in its surface through the opening 9 of whichthe shank 10 ofthe nail or other fastener passes. The recess 8 receivesthe concave head 11 of the nail, so that the head of the nail will lieflush with the lower side of the washer after the nail has been drivenhome. By forming the re cess ,in the washer in the manner stated, morewearingmaterial is provided in the body of the heel without wearing thehead of the nail and releasing the heel from the shoe. In Figs. '7 and8, a comparison between the new and old method of construction isillustrated. The recess construction appearing enters. the

' heel portion 2 of through which 'nail 6 or other fastening means isplaced in the indenture 13 and the fastening device then driven throughthe body of the heel toward its upper side. As a result the fasteningdevice is directed so that as it heel it will pass through acorresponding washer and into the body of the the shoe. The wall of therecess 8 which tapers inwardly also acts as a guiding surface-to assistin directing the point of the fastener through the passage the fastenerhome, a nail set or other instrument or tool is employed which after thehome is withdrawn from the resilient heel. The body of the resilientheel thereupon closes the opening which has been made by the nail orfastener, thus sealing the heel and preventing any moisture or dirtcollecting in its body, which otherwise would occur were an openingprovided in the body of the heel the. nail or fastener is driven. Inthismanner the heel is rendered more sanitary which is an advantage.-

The guiding spots formed by the protuberances 12 or other suitablemarking means can be of any sutable construction for centering thefastening devices over the respective heel engaging elements formed bythe washers 5 or other suitable means. The outer margin of the heel isformed with an upwardly projecting lip 14, due to the upper or heel faceof the resilient heel being concave. When the resilient heel is securedwith its wear surface outmost upon the shoe, the fastening devicesholdthe heel with its margin compressed tightly against the shoeheel orlift, thereby producing a close jomt under compression and causing theheel to compress tightly against the surface upon which it is mounted.The cavity 3 also assists incausing the heel to adhere by suction inplace. I

In the manufacture of shoe heels having my invention, the washers can beplaced over smooth unshouldered pins for positioning in the resilientmaterial in the mold whereas if the shoulders 9 are not employed like inprior structures the pins must be shouldered to support the washers deepin the mold and the washers are therefore more likely to be upset andineifectively positioned than by the use of my invention wherein theshoulders take the place of the shoulders on the pins and do not hayeobjectionable openings. in the finished product.

The body of with columns 7 in the cav1ty 3, which project upwardly andpress tightly against the surface 16 which may be of the heel portion orlift upon which the heel is mounted. These columns impressing themselvesagainst the surface 16 of the heel sustain the load in spots or zones,and in turn producea plurality of friction zones on the lower or wearthe resilient heel is formedsurface of the heel body to preventslipping. When desired a single column 17, (see Fig.

9) can be employed instead of a plurality,

the same result being accomplished thereby to a more limited extent.

In fastening my improved heel on a shoe the nails or other fasteningdevices employed are driven from the wear surface side of the heelthrough the body, a nail being placed with its point in each of theindentures 13 of the-spotters and driven directly through the heel andthe corresponding washer into the heel portion2 or lift of the shoe asthe case may be. After the nails have been driven home, the resilientheel is held tightly compressed upon the shoe. The nails are driven homeeither by hand or machine, and when the driving devices are withdrawnfrom the body of the heel the openings made by the nails close and sealautomatically, thereby preventing any moisture or dirt accumulating inthe heel and conditions.

The washers 5 prevent the nails working through the lift and into theshoe after they have been driven into the heel part and lift. The apexends of the washers also press against the surface of the heel part orlift as the case tearing the washers loose heel.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which. I nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to haveit understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and thatthe invention can be carried out by other means and applie to uses otherthan those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

'1. A heel construction comprising an elastic body to be secure' upon ashoe surface and a washer embedded therein, said body having afrusto-conical protuberance upon its surface correspon in said Washer,whereby a through said protuberance will enter said washer.

2. A heel construction, comprising, an elastic unperforated body, awasher invisible from the tread surface placed therein and a marker.arranged on the lower surface 0 the heel remote from but indicating theposition of the opening in said washer, whereby a fastener'driventhrough said body at a position indicated by said marker will enter saidopening in said washer and the opening made by sa'd fastener in'entering said body will close after the fastener.

3. A heel construction, comprising, an elastic body, and a washerembedded therefrom the rubber ding with the openingproducing unsanitarymay be and prevent the nails from is driven through said Washer intosaid support, the outstanding stop of said Washer Will press againstsaid sup ort. 10

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANCIS A. NOLAN.

